George Hill’s athleticism: By the Numbers w/ video
On different threads I’ve seen some arguements and discussion over Hill and what his athleticism really is. So instead of responding on all of them here’s a dedicated thread. I also have some number breakdowns on Hairston and Gist, but maybe later.
So here’s a breakdown going by the limited resources available: combine measurements and video.
Lots of talk about his speed and his wingspan, but not too much about things like his reach and his vert.
Hill does have a nice wingspan of course (6-9) but a mediocre standing reach (8-1.5). As a comparison, Derrick Rose has a samller wingspan (6-8) but superior standing reach (8-2.5). So when prospect analysis articles write about him being ill suited to alter shots, the reach is coming into play.
It’s harder to evaluate the speed times compared to the hard height/reach numbers. TJ Ford’s 3/4 speed wasn’t nearly as good on paper as it is on the court with the ball.
A broad note about these numbers. There were 32 players drafted in 2008 who had combine times officially recorded, a handful more who just had the measurements of height/weight etc. The all time number at DX is 295 performances timed from draftees. There were a couple who were repeated as they did 2 combines after entering the draft and pulling out then going back in the next year, but 295 is the number.
That being said, there’s an odd disparity in Hill’s 3/4 time and his agility time.
3/4 time. Hill did tie for 5th place on among the timed 32 draftees. If you go by the all-time numbers from Draft Express, the 08 class is among the fastest, and among the 295 timed performances of drafted players in the DX database, Hill has the 15th fastest time out of 295.
But the lane agility time was almost the exact opposite. Out of 32 timed 2008 draftees, Hill’s lane time was 27th. All time DX numbers, he’s tied for 266th out of 295.
Hate to repeat myself but the lane and 3/4 times can be very deceiving and don’t translate well to on the court play. For instance Monta Ellis had horrible times (his lane time isn’t as bad as Hill but close), and I’ve read rumors that Ellis’s performance at the camp was hampered by partying the night before. And regardless of rumor his on court performance blows away his combine times. Joe Johnson also had a poor timed agility lane performance (not as bad as Hill or Ellis, but close enough) but he’s a legit all-star.
One measurement that might be more relatable is Hill’s no-step vertical measurement, though his max vert is nothing superstar. His no-step vert was in a 2-way tie for 3rd best no-step vert out of the 32 measured draftees. That probably plays a part in why he was able to be such a good rebounder in college. In fact all-time his numbers are in a 5-way tie for 18th out of 295.
His max vert doesn’t gain all that much on the no-step, in fact the difference between the two is among the smallest I could find on DX, a difference of 3.5 inches. But still good enough to keep him in a broad 13 person tie for 50th out of 295.
VIDEO EVIDENCE
Here’s where the vertical comes into play, these dunks are great for his small size. Not many his size can pull off these dunks in halfcourt sets and traffic. Tony Parker has never done it, the only dunks of his career were all alone with no one within a quarter court of him.
Hill on tape:
2 dunks around the 40 second mark or so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS8idEVrGN0
alley oop at 37 seconds or so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-caS-872Jk
alley oop at 13 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEb3MS8bK24
Here is a guy who is at least an inch shorter without shoes than players like Monta Ellis and can dunk in games. Maybe not as powerfully, but I believe it’s noteworthy.